GA-ASI, BAE Systems Join to Enhance Military Analysis Under Air Force Contract

GA-ASI, BAE Systems Join to Enhance Military Analysis Under Air Force Contract

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAug 08, 2008

SAN DIEGO, California — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA‑ASI) and BAE Systems will jointly develop architecture to automate the detection and identification of ground battle targets. The companies will jointly integrate the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Continuous Look Attack Management for Predator® (CLAMP) program under a $6 million Air Force contract.

CLAMP will integrate a high-resolution Lynx® synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with other sensors on an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft under an effort called C-RIP, for CLAMP-Reaper Integration Program. GA-ASI builds the Reaper aircraft and Lynx radar. The C-RIP sensors will evaluate imagery collected by the radar during Reaper surveillance operations, detecting changes in the battle space, classifying enemy vehicles, and displaying results to analysts on the ground.

“This architecture is a significant leap forward in that it allows the synthetic aperture radar operator to use high-resolution imagery of the Lynx radar in parallel with other MQ-9 sensors," said Linden Blue, president of GA-ASI’s Reconnaissance Systems Group. "This program will enhance efficiency of image analysis by providing automated exploitation tools.”

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and BAE Systems in late 2007 signed a memorandum of understanding that joins GA-ASI’s development of reconnaissance sensors and sensor control systems for unmanned aircraft systems with BAE Systems’ expertise in sensor data processing and exploitation.

“BAE Systems’ intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance exploitation systems will maximize the capabilities of the GA‑ASI sensor and sensor control systems for unmanned aircraft systems such as Reaper,” said Nils Sandell, vice president of advanced information technologies for BAE Systems in Burlington, Massachusetts. “Combining our expertise, we can provide improved capabilities to ensure the effectiveness and safety of U.S. armed forces.”

Work on the contract will be performed through September 2009 at GA‑ASI’s facilities in San Diego and BAE Systems’ facilities in Burlington.

About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., an affiliate of General Atomics, provides comprehensive unmanned aircraft and radar solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide. The company’s Aircraft Systems Group is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable unmanned aircraft systems, including Predator, Predator B, and Sky Warrior®, and provides pilot training and support services for UAS field operations. The Reconnaissance Systems Group designs, manufactures, and integrates the Lynx SAR/GMTI radar into both manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as the highly sophisticated CLAW® sensor control and image analysis software, and integrates sensor and communications equipment into manned ISR aircraft. For more information, please visit www.ga-asi.com.

About BAE Systems BAE Systems is the premier global defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With approximately 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007. www.baesystems.com